Parents face hefty costs for compulsory school laptops

CASH-strapped families are increasingly being asked to fork out hundreds of dollars to equip their children with laptops for school.

As notebook computer programs expand into more public schools and year levels this year, one Frankston mum says the cost could be crippling.

Amy Dawson said she is facing a $100-a-month bill for notebook computers for her two sons.

Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals' president Frank Sal said government schools were "between a rock and a hard place" because they were expected to offer state-of-the-art curriculum, but were criticised for raising costs.

Ms Dawson said her sons' school - Mt Erin College in Frankston South - this year had a deal with a private provider where parents could buy notebooks for $1341 or rent-to-buy for $88 with monthly payments of $50.

The school is introducing a program this year where students in years 7 to 9 will be expected to have a notebook for use at school and at home.

"I cannot afford two laptops for this price and the lease option (would cost) $3700 for two laptops over 36 months," Ms Dawson said.

She said she had been told that her sons could not download the education programs required to their own laptops.

Ms Dawson said she did not want her children to "sit there feeling like the poor kids".

"I will get (the laptops), but I'm going to struggle because of it."

Many schools are introducing new notebook programs to years 7 and 8 students this year, but costs vary wildly. Some schools offer leases from $200 a year.

The Federal Government's Digital Education Revolution has funded 967,000 computers, one for every student in years 9-12 in every public school. Funding is due to expire in June.

In a letter to parents, Mt Erin's principal said no student would be disadvantaged.

The school said one-to-one notebook programs enhanced students' learning.

Parents Victoria's Gail McHardy said the biggest frustration for parents was that they felt they could get laptops cheaper elsewhere.

Mt Erin's program includes the notebook, insurance, a carry case, repairs and a spare battery.

Education Department spokeswoman Helen Stevanovich said there was a new licensing agreement so students could access most education-related software used in Victorian Government schools at no cost.

She said some schools had run one-to-one laptop programs for student use at school and home. Schools might charge for the laptops but "are expected to subsidise the cost so they are affordable", she said.